U.S. Forces have seized two more oil tankers. And for the purposes of this discussion, I want to focus on the fact that they have seized a Russian oil tanker in its ongoing blockade of Venezuelan oil. [00:00:15] The issue here, though, is that the seizure of this particular tanker isn't really about Venezuelan oil. They suspected that it was carrying Iranian oil. So remember, our country is supposed to do the bidding of Israel, and Israel doesn't like Iran. So we've got these sanctions against Iran. [00:00:33] And as a result, the US is using that as justification for seizing this oil tanker like pirates would now. Anyway, let me give you all the details. You can decide for yourselves how you feel about this, because the seizure does represent the Trump administration's latest [00:00:48] aggression in, on the international stage. So the US had, engaged in this weeks long pursuit of this specific Russian tanker, that's named the marinara, which They gotta name it something else, man. [00:01:04] You're making me hungry, but okay. They named it the marinara, but it wasn't always called the marinara. It used to be called the Bella one. Now, the way that they changed the name is actually kind of funny, so we'll get to that in just a second. But it had been attempting to evade US forces for over two weeks. So US forces are chasing it down. Chasing it down. [00:01:21] They finally managed to seize the tanker. It was sailing near Iceland last night when it was intercepted by American forces, and the tanker was sanctioned by the United States last year for allegedly carrying, you know, sanctioned oil. [00:01:39] Now the UK, the British forces specifically, took part in this operation. The marinara, by the way, was even being escorted by a Russian Navy ship and submarine, and it was flying a Russian flag. Remember, we're talking about two nuclear powers here when it comes [00:01:56] to Russia and the United States. And so it is a little concerning to see this type of direct Aggression carried out by the United States against a Russian tanker. But the U.S. Did it with the help of British forces who supported the operation. [00:02:15] The UK Defense Ministry cited assessments that the vessel had been involved in illegal activity linked to international terrorism and crime, including Hezbollah, and part of the web of rising shadow activity that fuels and finances nefarious activity across the globe. [00:02:33] I mean, we don't do any nefarious activity across the globe, right? Like, is Hezbollah a threat to us? Like, why do we care about Hezbollah? Why do we care about Hezbollah? I don't care about Hezbollah, I don't. Sorry. Why are we using our resources to go after a tanker carrying oil that supposedly [00:02:52] supports Hezbollah's activities? How about Israel spends some of its money? How about that? But anyway, according to the US, the tanker allegedly carries oil from sanctioned countries. So Iran in particular, in this case, the U.S., believed that it [00:03:09] was actively shipping Iranian oil during the time that it was seized. The tanker was docked in Iran back in August of last year. But in November, it started to make its way toward Venezuela. By December, it reached the Caribbean, where the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel. [00:03:26] The tanker then dramatically changed course. And this is the part that I find kind of funny. Okay, so this is where the name change happens. It didn't work, but while it was being chased, it stopped transmitting its location and then changed its name from Bella one to marinara [00:03:46] and then reregistered as a Russian vessel. Now, Secretary of State Pete Hegseth has put out some statements about this on social media, particularly on X, where he writes that the blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect anywhere in the world. [00:04:02] Again, there's some contradictions here because, you know, most credible news sources have said that U.S. Officials believe that it was carrying oil from Iran and was headed for Venezuela. But I wouldn't really expect our Secretary of War to really be [00:04:20] caught up on the facts of the story. But nonetheless, Hegseth also says that the United States continues to enforce the blockade against all Dark Fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people. [00:04:37] The balls on this guy, the balls on this guy. You're worried about stealing from the Venezuelan people. That's like what we're currently engaging in right now. But okay, only legitimate and lawful energy commerce as determined by the United States, because we are the police, we are [00:04:53] the global police will be permitted. Now, Russia's Transport Ministry has responded to this, saying that the high seas are governed by the principle of freedom of navigation, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered under the jurisdiction of other states. [00:05:10] One Russian official or politician, I should say, said that the US had turned to outright piracy on the high seas and honestly, someone had to say it. I had been thinking about that as well. Remember when the Somali pirates were a huge problem and a big story? [00:05:27] This is like many years ago, and we're kind of acting like the pirates, aren't we? Like we're talking about two sovereign countries trading oil. Like, who are we to intercept in international waters and potentially escalate a conflict with a nuclear power like Russia? [00:05:45] I think it's incredibly dumb, but okay. Yesterday Trump posted the following. I'm pleased to announce that the interim authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 million barrels of high quality sanctioned oil to let's cross out the United States and, [00:06:02] say, US based oil companies, who will then turn a profit and not share those profits with anyone. They're making profits for themselves. Like this isn't going to benefit the American people, but the oil will be sold at market price, [00:06:18] and that money will be controlled by me as president of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States. Right. I will believe it when I see it, and I certainly do not believe it, and I don't think I'll ever see it, but I would be very happy to be proven wrong on this. [00:06:37] It's just that Trump has lied time and time again. He has engaged in all sorts of deals that benefit himself and his family, or benefit his donors, but don't actually benefit the American people. We have a story later on in the show that takes a deep look [00:06:55] at jobs related data, and it shows that we are bleeding construction jobs, manufacturing jobs, effectively, the very blue collar jobs that Trump campaigned on increasing here in the United States through his fancy tariffs. [00:07:11] Looks like the opposite has actually happened. And in the meantime, Trump is demanding that Congress allocate even more money to the Pentagon. You know, the government agency that has failed every single audit. He doesn't think $1 trillion a year is enough. [00:07:28] He wants $1.5 trillion. Don't forget Noble Mobile, saving you a ton of money. So a lot of people are signing up now and beginning to realize what the hell, why am I paying so much to Verizon and AT&T? So your bills only $50 a month, but it can actually be less because they give you money back if you don't use your data. [00:07:44] So if you're paying more than $50, there's no reason to not switch. It's crazy not to switch because same phone, same number, same contacts. Literally nothing changes. Titcomb. Titcomb. Switch. All right, we'll be right back. So, according to the Wall Street Journal, 30 to 50 million barrels of oil [00:08:01] is up to 15% of Venezuela's total output. However, the Wall Street Journal did not explain. You know, like what time frame that's relative to. So the total output per year, Per month. Like we're not really sure. [00:08:17] So that's that's currently what's happening in international waters. We're still seizing tankers. We are still engaging in aggression against Venezuela. It remains to be seen whether or not the current Venezuelan regime. [00:08:33] I mean, it's the same regime that Maduro was the leader of. It's just that they now have a new leader. Is she going to be malleable? Is she going to comply with the Trump administration and give them everything that the Trump administration wants? I don't know, but I do know that Maduro had offered the oil [00:08:48] to the Trump administration because he didn't want war, he didn't want hostilities, and Trump turned that down. So we'll see. Maybe the regime will be willing to comply with the Trump administration. But I just I want to pour cold water on the notion that any of this was done [00:09:06] to benefit the American people, that any of this was done to overthrow the communist regime in Venezuela. No, this this has nothing to do with that. This is about making good on the promise that Trump made to oil executives [00:09:23] in the lead up to the election. He met with them and he said, if you fund my campaign to a certain amount and it was a large number, I will do your bidding. And that's exactly what he's been up to. [00:09:39] This is not about us, and it's not about the people of Venezuela. He could care less. Couldn't care less, I should say. This is about profiteering. And, we are going to pay, according to Trump, for the infrastructure necessary [00:09:56] to extract the oil from Venezuela. So he will ensure that the gains are privatized for the oil companies. And the costs are socialized for American taxpayers who are currently living in a country drowning in federal debt. Every time you ring the bell below, an angel gets its wings. [00:10:14] Totally not true, but it does keep you updated on our live shows.